A woman was left disappointed after receiving a thoughtless and already-used gift from her work colleague. On the popular forum Mumsnet, she explained that her work have been exchanging Easter gifts - similar to Secret Santa - for the last three years, with a spending limit of £10.
The woman claims it had been a success in previous years, but this time she was left shocked as she received a "smelly" Easter decoration and a "used" chapstick from a new co-worker.
On the 'am I being unreasonable' thread, she wrote: "The way it works is that we pull names and every person gets a small Easter gift for another person who works there. In the end, we find out who gave us the gift as the name is on the Easter card. Gifts can be decorations, a book, chocolate - whatever. The limit is £10, it's just for fun really, nothing else, and we enjoy it. Everyone at our workplace is earning a good salary.
"I opened my gift and I was a bit disappointed. It's from our new colleague who always seems nice. Not because of the things that had been chosen, but because of the quality. I received a bunny decoration, a chapstick and some chocolate. I would have been totally happy and pleased with that.
"But the chapstick has clearly been opened before. There is a bit of dirt on it and the packaging wasn't closed properly. The Easter decoration is smelly and the outsides of the fabric are brown and yellow. The chocolate seems fine but I'm scared to eat it with the other stuff being so nasty I am sort of wondering what might have happened to it."
The woman asked Mumsnet users if she should say something to the organiser of the gift exchange or her work colleague who gave her the gift. She added: "I know it isn't really an issue but a minor thing I just feel sad because we usually make an effort to show each other we care. I would have been fine with chocolate for 1 pound, really, but giving smelly, used stuff sort of feels mean.
"She knows the rules of the game and joining isn't an obligation. You also don't have to opt out or anything. The way it works is that they put a bowl there and if you want to participate you put your name in it and otherwise you don't."
Some Mumsnet users thought that the woman was right to be upset. One user wrote: "They were definitely unreasonable not to have spent at least £8 on something new. "
Another added: "You are not unreasonable to be disappointed, however it is tricky. There was a time when I kept up appearances by the skin of my teeth and £10 on a gift-thing was huge. So I’d chalk it up to better luck next time, avoid the chocolate and move on."
However, some thought that the woman was being unreasonable and should consider her co-worker's financial position. One user said: "Participating in such things is a waste of time, money and nerves for me. I never do. If I were you, I'd move on and not take part in it again.
Another commented: "I think you are being unreasonable. It is just a fun an inexpensive contribution for Easter. The quality doesn’t matter." While another added: "Easter gifts for adults aside, colleague is new maybe she is skint and didn't get the nuance it's optional and wanted to fit in."
Others thought of a way for the woman to bring up the situation to her co-worker. One user suggested that she should tell her work colleague: "Thanks so much for the chocolate and the decoration Sandra, you must have been away with the fairies when you wrapped it though as your lipbalm got mixed in with it too! Here you go". She added: "If she claims it was part of the gift you can say "no, don't be silly it was open!" Next year spend £10 on yourself and don't bother."
Another commenter agreed, saying: "I'd be inclined to give the lip balm back and ask her if she'd wrapped it up by mistake."
Do you think the woman is being unreasonable if she mentions the gift to her co-worker? Let us know in the comments below.
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